Old Buckenham Parish Council MINUTES OF THE MEETING of Old Buckenham Parish Council held on Thursday 2 nd March 2017 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Old Buckenham Present: Councillors J Kemp (Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Meeting), R Boggia, T Cracknell, B Devlin, S Hornbrook, T Johnson, S Milner and A Nicholls In Attendance: Mrs H A Clutten Members of the Public: 6 including John Fernihough and Sarah Dye in relation to the Green ACTION BY: 17/41 The Vice Chairman Jonathan Kemp took the Chair due to the absence of the Chair, Councillor Adrian Joel. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 17/42 To Consider Accepting Apologies for Absence: Council resolved to accept apologies from Councillors Hart, Joel and Marshall. 17/43 To Approve the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 2 nd February 2017: The draft Minutes of the meeting held on 2 nd February 2017 had been circulated to Councillors before this meeting. Council RESOLVED to approve the Minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting held on 2 nd February 2017. The Minutes were signed by the Chair of the Meeting, Councillor Jonathan Kemp. 17/44 To Receive Reports of Matters Arising from the Minutes of 2 nd February 2017 for update and information only: None 17/45 Public Participation in relation to agenda items only: Points were raised about the Green including what investments and funds the Green Rights Proprietors have. Sarah Dye said that whilst the GRPs have some funds a lot of these would be used to remove the tree that had been damaged in the recent storm; also points on the costs of using of the Green and of maintaining it were considered. The Parish Council has a lot of projects in progress but few of them are reaching fruition, the Neighbourhood Plan being one of them. Councillor Hornbrook reported that no one had come forward to drive the initiative; she has too many commitments to lead the project herself. It was suggested that the Parish Council took a decision in April as to whether or not continue with the Neighbourhood Plan production. It was also suggested that those attending the Annual Parish Meeting should be apprised of the need for more help with the Neighbourhood Plan production and that an item put in the Village Newsletter to the same affect. Councillor Ben Devlin arrived at7.45pm. Councillor Cracknell suggested that the Council paid someone to do the Neighbourhood Plan work. It was also suggested that Old Buckenham residents were contacted to see if anyone was interested in helping. The issue of the Local Plan was raised; it was felt that two sites were not now needed f only 35 properties were required. The next opportunity for consultation will be when the next version of the Plan is published in May-June 2017 before the final document goes to the Planning Inspectorate It was believed that Breckland Council would not want potential development sites removed from the Local Plan. Old Buckenham Parish Council, Minutes 2 nd March 2017, Page 1
17/46 To record declarations of interest not already recorded in the current Members Register of Interests: None 17/47 Update on the Green: (1) Report from the Green Rights Proprietors AGM Sarah Dye reported that the AGM and a normal meeting had taken place on 21 st February 2017. The GRPs had voted in favour of entering into an agreement with the Parish Council and had authorised Sarah Dye to sign the document on their behalf. Sarah Dye had been asked to bring up one issue with the Parish Council regarding ownership of the Green. This was not an issue for particular discussion more a request to put on record that by signing the lease with the Parish Council, to which the Lord of the Manor was a party, was not an affirmation by the GRPs that the Lord of the Manor was owner of the Green; Sarah Dye handed the Clerk a letter confirming this viewpoint. (2) To agree to proceed with mole eradication on the Green by Able Pest Management Services at a cost of 750 to 900 plus VAT provided that the Annual Parish Meeting Poll favours the Parish Council taking over management of the Green. John Fernihough reported that a local farmer was willing to cut the Green free of charge in return for keeping the grass crop but the substantial amount of moles in the Green would make this task too difficult so the moles had to be eradicated first. A member of the public suggested that the GRPs should pay for the mole eradication. Council RESOLVED to proceed with mole eradication on the Green by Able Pest Management Services at a cost of 750 to 900 plus VAT provided that the Annual Parish Meeting Poll favours the Parish Council taking over management of the Green. 17/48 To consider as consultee planning application made to Breckland Council and Breckland Council s decisions made on planning applications: (1) Planning Application Consultations: Downmoor, Banham Road, Old Buckenham, erection of double garage the Parish Council agreed to support this application. Castle Hill Garage, New Buckenham, detailed application following earlier outline permission the Parish Council did not wish to make any comments on this application. (2) Planning Permission Received from Breckland Council: Oak Lodge, 2 Fen Street, permission for single storey extension. 17/49.Financial Matters: (a) To receive a Financial Report from the Clerk: The Clerk had circulated a Financial Report prior to the meeting. (b) To approve payments: Council RESOLVED to approve the following payments: Old Buckenham Parish Council, Minutes 2 nd March 2017, Page 2
Cheques drawn Cheque No Item VAT 101880 Mrs E Jolley, Community Car January 2017 Gross 0.00 21.60 101881 Spanglefish, PC website annual fee 4.99 29.95 Total 4.99 51.55 SOs/DDRs/BACS Mrs H A Clutten, net March salary 2017 0.00 388.16 Mrs H Clutten, Broadband, Telephone etc March 2017 Mrs H A Clutten, net pay for Community Car work to 31.03.2017 J C Frost a & Co, Allotment Rent, 2014/15 (unpaid) HMRC, tax deducted Jan, Feb, March 2017 0.00 32.00 0.00 58.57 0.00 650.00 0.00 305.76 17/50 Reports: Totals 0.00 1,434.49 1. District Councillor and Chairman s Report The Chair read out a report from District Councillor Joel in his absence and then reported that most of work on the new BT box has been completed but an easement to provide energy to the box still has to be resolved. 2. Attleborough Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Councillor Johnson reported that the Draft Neighbourhood Plan has now been submitted and he had obtained a hard copy which he had given to the Clerk. 3. SNAP Councillor Johnson reported that the last SNAP meeting had been cancelled by email on the date it was to take place. 4. Attleborough Development Plan Meeting Councillor Boggia reported that there has been some discussion about the constructors getting a loan to fund the building of the road before development was started instead of building the road piecemeal. 5. Road Safety Working Party Councillor Boggia had written a draft letter in response to Paul Donnachie s (NCC) recent communication which she distributed to Councillors and then read out aloud. Essentially it countered his reasons for not allowing the safety crossing. Old Buckenham Parish Council, Minutes 2 nd March 2017, Page 3
Council RESOLVED to send this letter to Paul Donnachie and to send copies to County Councillor Steve Askew and MP George Freeman. 6. Parish Councillors Reports Councillor Nicholls reported that the ditch in front of the Asparagus Field is over full and should be reported to Highways. Councillor Cracknell reported on the Village Hall; the Scouts would like to put a container on the area leased by the Parish Council for recreation to house their trailer; the Parish Council will consider this request at its next meeting. He also reported that the Village Committee would like a donation of 5,000 towards further work on the car park. Councillor Milner reported that the memorial walnut tree at Stacksford had come down in the recent storm. The trunk has been cut into discs which are being sold to raise funds to replace the fallen tree and it has been agreed to give any surplus monies to the Green Funds. The next film is being shown at the Village Hall on Saturday, A Street Cat Named Bob ; a feline support group is attending the viewing. The Clerk has agreed to laminate some APM posters produced by Councillor Milner. Councillor Milner also reported that the application for the mobile telephone mast in New Buckenham is likely to be refused; he has emailed the company involved to let them know that Old Buckenham might be able to help with a site. Councillor Devlin apologised for arriving late at this evening s meeting. He reported that he had spoken to the Play Area s chosen fencing company but it was not willing to reduce the quotation. An Ash Tree opposite the Ox and Plough requires attention as the trunk is splitting; the Clerk agreed to contact the Green Rights Proprietors about this. Councillor Hornbrook reported that the Neighbourhood Plan document is a legal document and a specific procedure must be followed. The Parish Council might need to appoint a private consultant to complete the rest of the work if no one in the village is willing to spearhead the initiative but she is willing to brief such a person. 7. Request from Village Hall to help finance the cost of further work on the car park There was a discussion about the drainage issue in the car park and a feeling that this needs to be well and truly resolved this time. Professional help might be needed to solve this issue before the remaining work is done. Finally, Council RESOLVED to lend the Village Hall Committee 5,000, interest free over five years on condition that the Village Hall Committee finally resolves the drainage issue. 17/51 Almshouses Charity nomination of a Parish Council Trustee for next four years: The Clerk reported that a current member of the trustees is willing to switch to being the Parish Council nominated trustee; she will contact the person involved. 17/52 Highways Matters including cutting of verges and speeding on Doe Lane Still awaiting further details re verge cutting from Highways Department. Councillor Milner had done some speed checks on Doe Lane; five cars had been doing 60mph and one vehicle had been doing 70mph; he will carry out a few more checks and report back again. SM Old Buckenham Parish Council, Minutes 2 nd March 2017, Page 4
17/53 Consideration of appointing an odd job man: Councillor Cracknell presented his case for appointing an odd job man for the village on a selfemployed basis; he would be prepared to compile the to do list with the Clerk which would be approved by the Parish Council. He was also prepared to contribute 500 to the project if the Parish Council would put in 1,500. The odd job man would be paid 120 for a day s work which would be monitored by Councillor Cracknell. The Parish Council has included 2,000 in its 2017/18 Budget for village jobs. Any contractor would need to show Public Liability Insurance. Council RESOLVED to appoint a self-employed person as an odd job man at 120 per day up to a maximum cost of 2,000 including the 500 offered by Councillor Cracknell in 2017/18. 17/54 Update on Chapel Green School: A newsletter has been issued and the 30mph sign has finally been moved. 17/55 Update on the Village Sign repairs: Nothing to report. 17/56 Correspondence: Letter from Mr Darby to confirm recent conversation with Councillor Cracknell and a representative of NCC Highways Thank you letter from the Pre School for 2017/18 Precept Grant. 17/57 To receive items for the next meeting: Doe Lane speeding Awards Evening Telephone Box update Mobile Telephone Mast Chapel Green School The Green Neighbourhood Plan 17/58 To confirm the date of the next Parish Council Meeting as 6 th April 2017, to be held in the Village Hall, Old Buckenham: Confirmed Annual Parish Meeting to take place on Friday 17 th March 2017 at Old Buckenham Village Hall Councillor Hornbrook gave her apologies. 17/59 There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.35pm Signed by Adrian Joel 6 th April 2017 Old Buckenham Parish Council, Minutes 2 nd March 2017, Page 5